A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-11-03...Welcome to "Les Verts Mont"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join us as we tour
"Les Verts Mont"

What comes to mind when you think of Vermont? Great skiing? Maple syrup? Covered bridges? Maybe, if you are a history buff, Ethan Allen and the "Green Mountain Boys"? Well, Vermont is all this and much more. When I set out to discover Vermont, I realized that I knew practically nothing about this state. Now, having done some exploring during my travels to some interesting Vermont websites, I am ready to pack my bags, go for an extended visit and see this beautiful state for myself.

A bit of history.....
(the condensed version)

Vermont is the second smallest state in the Union, with fewer than 1 million people. Originally populated by various indigenous peoples of the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Abenaki nations, the land now known as Vermont was first seen by European eyes in 1609, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed the lake that now bears his name. The French must have paid their visits during the warmer months, for when they gazed upon the mountains that form the spine of the state, they named them Les verts monts, 17th century French for the Green Mountains. As happens with language, Les Verts Mont became Verts Mont, which then became "Vermont". And as happened with explorers, Champlain claimed all he saw in the name of France.

In 1763, England was granted the area via the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and Indian war. Locally, the land was at various times claimed by both New Hampshire and New York; however, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys put an end to that, and by 1777 Vermont had achieved independence. In fact, Vermont remained an independent republic until 1791, at which point it joined the United States as that fledgling nation's fourteenth member. Nonetheless, to this day Vermonters remain fiercely independent.

State Motto: "Freedom and Unity"



So, who were the
Green Mountain Boys?

They were a citizens' militia founded in Fay's Tavern in Bennington in 1770. This militia could be called up to protect, by force if necessary, the ownership of the land in the New Hampshire Grants. Ethan Allen was its first, and by all accounts very charismatic Colonel-Commandant. Some of the methods of coercion used by the Green Mountain Boys are questionable at best, violence and intimidation often occurring as they defended their lands against the hated "Yorkers". However, this group of Yankee Vigilantes was very instrumental in resisting New York's claims to land in what is now Vermont. It is worth noting that the Green Mountain Boys took no lives.

Ethan Allen demanding the
surrender of Fort Ticonderoga


Today's "Green Mountain Boys"...

.......
the 158th Fighter Wing
of the Vermont Air National Guard.


Facts and Trivia about our fourteenth state...

Did you know that the world's largest granite quarry is located in central Vermont? It is. At the "Rock of Ages" quarry, where granite is mined and memorial stones are manufactured, sheer cliffs descend 600 feet to the quarry floor below. Tours are available during the summer months.



Also in central Vermont is what is believed to be the world's ONLY "spider web farm". No kidding. Will Knight, maker of collectibles and fine woodenware, noticed he had an abundance of spiders on his farm. Each spider wove it's own individual web design. Will began collecting these webs and making unique web items from them. He also devised an ingenious method of encouraging the spiders to weave just for him. He harvests them through a painstaking process and mounts the delicate, silk webs on wooden plaques and jewelry boxes.


Mr. Knight says, "Our spiders hunger for their work and provide us with genuine masterpieces of natural art. Enjoy the beauty of a silky spider web without the spider. Admire the precision and the perfection of the orb weaver, araneidae, preserved and protected as a work of art."

Another interesting fact ~ Robert James Waller's novel "The Bridges of Madison County" could easily have been set in Vermont rather than Iowa, with a slight name change. There is no "Madison County" in Vermont, but there are many beautifully restored covered bridges. In fact, Vermont has the largest concentration of covered bridges in the United States - a total of 114 in this tiny state, many of which are still in use.

One of the covered bridges in Vermont
and a bit of folklore surrounding.....

"Emily's Bridge"

Located in Stowe, Vermont
(John N. Smith, c.1844) (Photo © Dave MacKenzie)
Howe Truss, 50', spanning Gold Brook on Gold Brook Road.

There are at least three dramatic stories about how the name "Emily's Bridge" came about:

- In the 1800's, Emily was jilted by her fiancé and hung herself
from the rafters.

- In 1925, homely Emily fell in love with Donald, who got her pregnant. When Emily's father insisted that Donald marry Emily, Donald killed himself here. After the birth of twins, Emily followed suit.

- (Date unknown) Emily died after her horse threw her here; she was on her way to her wedding.

Whatever the truth behind the name, there are numerous "eyewitness" accounts of continued haunting of the bridge, supposedly by Emily's ghost.

Click HERE for a complete presentation of photographs
and historical information on Vermont's Covered Bridges.

Last but not least, this profile of Vermont would not be complete without mentioning their world famous maple syrup. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S.

The first American Sugarmakers were early Native Americans of New England who called their delicious maple syrup, "sinzibukwud," which translated means, "sweet buds." The world is forever in their debt for teaching their Sugarmaking trade to the first American white settlers. Read more about it HERE.

A Vermont Maple Syrup Recipe
and Harvest-time Tradition
Sugar On Snow

-Vermont Fancy, Grade-A Light Amber Maple Syrup
-Pure white snow
-Sour Pickles
-Donuts

Boil syrup to 255 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop snow into large bowl or pan. Drizzle hot maple syrup lightly over snow. Use forks to eat the sticky top layer. Follow with a bite of your favorite donut or a sour pickle. (I am not making this up. LOL!)

The heated syrup will form a lace-like pattern across the top of the snow and quickly harden into a delectable confection. Build a fire pit, round up a few avid maple sap gatherers and you have the makings for a.........

"SUGAR ON SNOW PARTY!"



"These Green Mountains"
Diane Martin - Composer
Rita Buglass - Arranger

These green hills and silver waters
are my home. They belong to me.
And to all of her sons and daughters
May they be strong and forever free.
Let us live to protect her beauty
And look with pride on the golden dome
They say home is where the heart is
These green mountains are my home.
These green mountains are my home.

On May 22, 2000, in a ceremony at Twinfield Union School, Governor Howard B. Dean, M.D. signed Act 99, which designated "These Green Mountains" as the new state song of Vermont.

I could not find a midi of this state song,
but I did find this: "Moonlight in Vermont".










Thank you to the following websites for information and graphics:
The Ethan Allen Homestead and Museum
Vermont, the Green Mountain State
Vermont 'Sugar Shack Facts'

Thank you for joining us on our trek through Vermont.
Have a nice FRiday and a great weekend!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-07-03...Military Monday 07-08-03...FRPets - iceskater's Bubba/Lucy 07-09-03...Things I've Learned in Life 07-10-03...JH2 - "Is Iraq Another Vietnam?"

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, Nan! What a pleasant surprise to see you here this morning!

Yes, I chose to ignore the politics of this beautiful state. I didn't even mention the famously left-leaning "original" Ben and Jerry, LOL. Although, I admit they made some great ice cream. There were just too many other more interesting things about Vermont to spotlight. So, sorry Ben and Jerry, you ended up on the cutting room floor.

[The Thin Man]

Good morning, Mama_Bear! Yep, another perfect, error-free thread. You sure know how to spoil one's fun, LOL!

Here are some interesting Vermont laws......

• Whistling underwater is illegal

• At one time it was illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole.

• Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.

[Mama_Bear]

I am pinging all of our Finest Vermonters to this thread. We are having a good time touring your state today. I hope you all will come by and join us in spotlighting beautiful Vermont.

.30Carbine, I am happy to hear that you have a Governor that you can respect and support. I pray that someday real soon we here in California will be able to do the same.

[Billie]

I'm starved! And pancakes are my favorite breakfast! Anyone know where I can get some - especially with fresh strawberries? :)

Morning to all my Sweet 'n Lovely Sistahs! Thank you for the virtual trip to Vermont today, Lori - it was most delightful!

[Billie]

Wanted to especially thank you, .30Carbine, for all your wonderful, informative posts this morning! If all Vermonters are as hospitable and helpful as you are.....let's all go to Vermont!

[Mama_Bear]

Hiya, Calpernia.

What a YUMMY post!

Thank you! I thought it would be nice to have pancakes and maple syrup this morning before we set off on our tour. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Dubya. Glad you are enjoying our 'Finest State' today. Vermont is one of the few states I have never had the pleasure of visiting. Sure looks beautiful!

[Billie]

To The Mayor and Mrs Mayor :)

We always looked forward to that purple china cup brimming full of steaming hot coffee when we first began, so after a long absence, it's really nice to see Rus and the cup back 'most every day again. Thanks for posting on his behalf this morning. :) Hope that you are all moved and settled now.

[Mama_Bear]

Tips for student pilots. From Dub.

LOL! Now, those were funny. Especially this one:

Helicopters can't fly; they're just so ugly the earth repels them.

I am sending that one to my ex-Navy chopper pilot brother-in-law. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

I discovered that there are lots of famous people from Vermont, including two Presidents. I just couldn't get everything in. I had no idea there was so much to say about your state.

Sherman Adams governor, East Dover
Chester Alan Arthur U.S. president, Fairfield
Orson Bean actor, Burlington
Calvin Coolidge U.S. president, Plymouth
Thomas Davenport inventor, Williamstown
John Deere inventor, Rutland
George Dewey admiral, Montpelier
John Dewey philosopher, educator, Burlington
Stephen A. Douglas politician, Brandon
James Fisk financial speculator, Bennington
Wilbur Fisk clergyman, educator,
Ralph E. Flanders senator, Barnet
Horace A. Tabor silver king, Holland
Justin Morrill politician, Strafford
Richard Morris Hunt architect, Brattleboro
William Morris Hunt painter, Bratleboro
Elisha Graves Otis inventor, Halifax
Moses Pendleton choreographer
Patty Sheehan golfer, Middlebury
Joseph Smith religious leader, Sharon
Ernest Thompson actor, writer
Rudy Vallee singer, band leader, Island Pond
Henry Wells pioneer entrepreneur, Thetford
Brigham Young religious leader, Whitingham

[Billie]

Morning, Finest Ladies!

Nan, always surprised when I see you here so early - pleasantly surprised, of course!

[Billie]

Good morning, jw! Love the fall colors - that kind of scenery makes for such beautiful driving! Have never been to New England to see the 'colors', but there are many other states where we've had that pleasure. America the Beautiful - truly!

[Mama_Bear]

I do snow cream every year with my children. BUT, you may keep the pickle. :P

Doesn't that sound like a really odd flavor combination? Now, DONUTS and maple, I can understand.....they actually go together.

I was sure they were kidding about the pickle, but here are some pictures, and, sure enough, those are bowls of pickles on the table. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

Hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Let us know when you get back safe and sound.

[Mama_Bear]

Here's a useful tip if you visit VT in mid-summer, mid-winter, or anytime in the fall - Avoid Stowe!

LOL! So, we should only come in the spring? Why?

That's where Emily's Bridge is located. Looks pretty enough. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Burp!! Er, Bump!!

LOL. Thanks for the burp and those yummy looking pancakes. I'm starving!

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Freezie! Thanks for posting that precious "Make a wish" calendar page.

This is MY wish.......that I had some maple syrup! I have pancake mix and NO syrup! Story of my life. LOL.

[JustAmy]

Good Morning!!!!

pinging ladtx to post #18

[Mama_Bear]

Hey, Fiddlstix. Coffee and donuts to go with our pancakes this morning. YUM! I believe I see a maple donut in there. My favorite.

We will ALL need to go to the gym after all these delicious calories!

[dansangel]

MMMMMMMMM.....I just *love* maple sugar candy! I am reminded of several trips to Vermont with my family as a youngster and *especially* the precious treat of maple sugar candy.

Thank-you (((((Mama_Bear))))) for a beautiful trip down memory lane!

Post and run ((((((HUGS)))))))) to my sistahs, FReeper Friends and for my sweet fuzzy brothah,

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